Going to Mexico. Do I need temp. import?

[strsout]

I'm going to ride to Mexico next month and I was wondering if I do need the Temporary Import documentation to go to Creel and surrounding.
My plan is to start from Tijuana, Baja California, to La Paz, cross by ferry, go to Creel and back thrught Nogales, Arizona.
If I need the Temporary Import documentation, how do I do it?
Thank you

[MikeS]

In theory, yes, you will need a temp import doc (although maybe not if you're from the USA?). You will get it at the border though I came in from Guatemala via a bizzare river crossing at Bethel and never managed to get a temp import for my bike as there was no Aduana there. I even tried for one at Palenque and the guys at the Immigration office there just weren't interested and said it wasn't necessary (even though it is apparently).

I was asked for it once while i was arguing with a Mexican cop about riding through the same stop sign twice but I somehow managed to change the subject!

[Mr. Ron]

You need a temorary import permit if you plan on going beyond the frontier, which you will if your going to Creel. That being said it's hard to say what will happen if you don't. Sounds like MikeS got a little lucky IMHO. I've been checked numerous times in Mexico for the permit. Usually the police just see the sticker on your windshield and let you go. I think things could get kinda tricky if you put an ace in a Federally's pocket. I know they check your permit at the frontier after entering from Nogales, and also at AguaCaliente if entering from Douglass.

[strsout]

so looks like it's a good idea to have one.
Now, I will be entering from Tijuana, very early in the morning (I had planned to enter around 5:30AM). Is the place to get this permit open at this time?
Do you know that?
Thank you again.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Yes , definitely need to get the temp..import permit. The Tijuana border crossing is open 24/7 and I assume the folks of Banjercito are there all the time - - but assumptions can be wrong, perhaps they do not work all night as their services won't be needed by 99 % of the night traffic who just cross the border back and forth.Also the TJ office is a bit of a maze to find for the first timer like you.
I suggest that since you want to start early in the morning then why not start a day "early" by going to the TECATE border crossing which is open from 6 am to midnight. Tecate is never very busy and it will be extremely easy for you to find the Migracion and Banjercito offices . They are smack dab immediately at the border barricades as you enter Mexico. You will need a major credit card to pay for the vehicle import permit. No such card means you will have to pay a cash bond of up to $400US, depending on age of vehicle.The Cash bond wil be refunded promptly when you cancel your permit when you check out of Mexico.
You can get your Mexico insurance set up before you leave home, or buy it on the US side at Tecate at the c-store/gas station. If you ride to Tecate in the evening you can if you wish do the paperwork first and take a room in Hotel Paradiso for the night ( Good with secure parking) or go to the migracion office first thing in the morning . That way you will be assured of an early, easy start and avoid getting up way too early to hit the border at 6 and the traffic of TJ as you head down to Ensenada on Mex 3.
Enjoy the trip

[strsout]

Hello Sjoerd,
I will consider that too. I really cannot leave a day early, but I may arrange to leave work one our early and that will put me at Tecate around 6:30PM.
This hotel, Hotel Paradiso, I try google it, but could not find any neither on US nor on Mexico side. What side is it? Do you have a phone number by any chance?
Then on the insurance, I check the Internet and I found a vendor that is willing to give me the insurance for the full Mexico, for 10 days, for U$150.
Do you remember how much did you pay at the c-store/gas station? This is the web address for the one I found: Baja Bound Mexican Auto Insurance - Travel Safe in Mexico!
Thank you for the info.
Elton

[JimD]

check it out. Adventure Mexican Insurance Services - Online Mexico Insurance
for bike permit; Importación Temporal de Vehículos click on the flashing "AQUI" and follow instructions.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Th c-store is about the only commercial development on the US side other than several trucking terminals , all the city stuff is in Mexico. This is not a problem . Once you have insurance you can just ride into Mexico ,the customs people will rarley stop you, very amable , it is still a very friendly crossing when going INTO Mexico, a lot of local to and fro traffic. Go straight south a few blocks till you get to the main street Benito Juarez at the plaza then turn west and go about five blocks . Hotel Paraiso ( sorry ,my error, no "d" in there) will be visible to your right - big name written on the upper wall- front entry is just around the corner on Alberto Aldrete. All rooms are second floor, parking below, nice place , can walk down to the plaza , lots of restaurants around , also McDonalds south of the plaza, and BK and Pollo Feliz farther west on B.Juarez.
That Hotel Paraiso didn't show up on a search is no surprise due to my spelling error .It is a normal low budget hotel (was $18 single in '03) of which there are many all over Mexico.I got lots of'em. .All businesses in Tecate and other border towns will accept US dollars and often post prices in same and have cash registers set up to handle both. They do however round up prices a bit to their advantage, and it makes sense to pay in pesos. For this you can go to any of the cash machines in Mexico with your home bank card and get the needed supply. There is a bank with such a machine( cajero automatico) on the corner right beside Hotel Paraiso.
H.Paraiso is not the only hotel in town, I just like it and have stayed there multiple times.For the heck of it I just searched for it by name under Hotel Paraiso ,Tecate ,BCN,Mexico and got a bunch of sites , picked one which showed it had H.P. and it also listed all the others for Tecate, who'd a-thunk it !
The $150 quote for ten days is a bit steep ( liability only for bikes) . Three years ago I paid less at the c-store and elswhere this year too, like $115 for a month from Sanborns, but of course rates can change.
Yesterday I spoke of made assumptions- and I was assuming that you were aware of the fact that it would be best for you if you carried your passport ( to get you back into the USA!) as ID as well as your current drivers license, had the bike registration and ownership current and in your own name, same as passport and credit card . Also assumed you know that fees for import permit and tourist tax are non-refundable, but if a bond is posted that it will be refunded upon clearing bike out of Mexico.
Enjoy the trip!

[strsout]

Excellent information. Thank you for posting it here.
I got the hotel directions and I used the link to pay for the temp import. I should receive it in few more days and I will post here for other to know how it works.

Any additional info still welcome

[eaw1944]

Originally Posted by strsout

I'm going to ride to Mexico next month and I was wondering if I do need the Temporary Import documentation to go to Creel and surrounding.
My plan is to start from Tijuana, Baja California, to La Paz, cross by ferry, go to Creel and back thrught Nogales, Arizona.
If I need the Temporary Import documentation, how do I do it?
Thank you

I haven't crossed by ferry from La Paz but I'm sure that when you go through immigration, about halfway down Baja, at Guerrero Negro, that is the place to get vehicle permit for Mazatlan. On November 16th, I'm headed south through Mexico to South America. When are you leaving?

Erik
erik.wallbank@gmail.com

[JimD]

If you take the ferry from La Paz, by all means get a cabin. It's expensive but you will get a good nights sleep and a shower as opposed to sitting up all night in a hot lounge full of crying kids. I was glad I did. My information may be a little dated, check it out.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Alert for Erik : There is NO customs check at the BCN/BCS stateline at Guerrero Negro , hasn't been for decades, perhaps an occasional police or army checkpoint. Get the paperwork done and out of the way when you enter Mexico from USA . If absolutely necessary you can get the import permit at the ferry terminal customs in Pichilingue, but why procrastinate if you know you are going to cross?
As for getting a cabin, it depends on how much luxury and comfort you absolutely demand and the weather conditions. If you are sailing in mild dry weather there is no rule against taking your sleeping bag and finding a nice quiet corner on deck and snoozing away the remainder of the night after you do the wander around the ship, socializing etc.On some sailings you can even take a shower in the public accessible wash rooms without having a cabin as long as you bring your towel and soap. And so what if you have to go a night without a shower. Do take your bag etc. off the bike when you park it because you cannot go back to the cargo bay en route. I found this way of sleeping very satisfactory and it beats spending 50 bucks or more extra just to use a bed for 3 or 4 hours.

[MikeS]

You can always sleep out on the deck, just have your roll mat handy. They didn't turn the lights off all night in the lounge and people step on you all the time when you're lying on the floor. I found those eye patch things you get on planes and ear plugs came in very handy! The ferry from Los Mochis to La Paz is slightly shorter too.

ps- Theres a mad dirt road all the way from Chiox (nr Los Mochis to Divisadero nr Creel, will take about 8-10 hours (I left Divisadero at 11am-ish and got to Choix just before dark). Quite hard going as the road surface is like plaster dust but its welll worth it.

Originally Posted by Possum

If you take the ferry from La Paz, by all means get a cabin. It's expensive but you will get a good nights sleep and a shower as opposed to sitting up all night in a hot lounge full of crying kids. I was glad I did. My information may be a little dated, check it out.

[strsout]

Originally Posted by MikeS

ps- Theres a mad dirt road all the way from Chiox (nr Los Mochis to Divisadero nr Creel, will take about 8-10 hours (I left Divisadero at 11am-ish and got to Choix just before dark). Quite hard going as the road surface is like plaster dust but its welll worth it.

Mike,
I understand that each one has it's one judgment on bad road, but can you tell a little more on this road?
I was planning on go around:
Los Mochis go north to Navojoa and Ciudade obregon,
then NorthEast to Curea (hwy 16)
then East to Yecora, Yepachic and San Juanito,
then finally south to Creel.

to avoid a very bad road ridding two up on a big GS, loaded, and some sort of not very experienced rider for dirty roads. (but I do have more then 100K miles on paved and one trip to Alaska where I got dirty with my 1200LT. So I'm assuming that will be easy with the GS).

If you or other know both ways, can you compare the North loop with the direct access to Creel?
I understand that from Yecora to San Juanito will be dirty too, but was told that maybe it will be better.

Any pictures on the road from Choix to Creel?
How manageable one can do that with 2 up?

Thank you

PS: should I re-post it on a different topic?

[MikeS]

[QUOTE=strsout;152882]
Any pictures on the road from Choix to Creel?
How manageable one can do that with 2 up?QUOTE]

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I thought it was a really beautiful ride. I did find it pretty slippy though but as long as you take it easy, you'll be fine. I didn't have a detailed map, just an intermittantly working GPS that didn't have the tracks anyway but was useful to at least know I was heading in the right direction to Choix. Just ask lots of locals!

I did originally think about going the tarmac route but while in Divisadero, a woman working on one of the stalls there assured me that there was a dirt road all the way to Choix- That was as much planning as I did and I was hardly going to pass that one up!